Geneva - Media & Communication Dept. - March 27 

The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) affirmed its firm positions against all racial discrimination forms as grave violations that rip the fabric of societies, and influence the individuals' rights, public health, and capacities to grow, prosper, and effectively engage within their societies.

This came in a GCC statement during the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as part of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar in Geneva, Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi, delivered the statement on behalf of the GCC, currently chaired by the State of Qatar.

The GCC countries said that they are observing with concern the ongoing racial discrimination waves across many countries, expressing their regret at the constant grave violations against people of African descent. These violations included hate crimes, harassment, and racial profiling committed by law enforcement authorities, and discrimination in employment, housing, and within educational institutions, which triggers an early school leaving.

Highlighting the GCC's many national laws and legislation battling racial discrimination, the statement noted the GCC Human Rights Declaration, adopted in 2014, which stipulates in Article 2 that there is no distinction between people for reasons of origin, gender, religion, language, color, or any other form of distinction.

While tackling the tragedies due to racial discrimination, the GCC statement stressed the need to pay attention to the tragedy of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation forces' apartheid policies, based on domination, imposing restrictions, deprivation and discrimination, calling on the international community to put an urgent end to these grave violations.